Print system, information processing apparatus, and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A print system according to the present invention includes an information processing apparatus including a Web browser, an application server including a Web application to be used via the Web browser, and a printer. The print system includes a transmission unit that, if the Web browser included in the information processing apparatus receives print data generated by the Web application and receives a print execution instruction, transmits the print data to the printer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a Web application print system, andmore specifically to a technique for easily printing a document createdby an application that operates on a Web browser.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, Web applications operating on a Web browser have beingactively studied and developed. The Web application is an applicationthat can be used over a network via the Web browser without installing aprogram into an information processing apparatus. The Web applicationhas been developed along with a spread of a “cloud computing technique”for providing via the network an information technology (IT) servicethat has been provided by being incorporated into each client personalcomputer (PC) to be provided. Some Web applications can providefunctions for creating documents and calculating tables.

A method for printing document data edited by the conventional Webapplication will be described. When a user inputs a print instruction, aWeb application converts a document to be processed by the Webapplication into a portable document format (PDF) data, and transfersthe converted data via the network to a client who has activated the Webbrowser. The Web browser on the information processing apparatusnotifies the user of reception of the document data in the PDF format.Subsequently, the user can print the document data in the PDF formatusing the application in the client. More specifically, when the usergives a print instruction again using the application for processingthis PDF data, an image drawing instruction is transmitted to a printerdriver in the client. The printer driver converts the image drawinginstruction into a page description language (PDL) format that can beinterpreted by the printer, and then transmits the PDL data to theprinter on the network as a print job.

As described above, to print the document created by the conventionalWeb application, the user needs to previously install the PDF program orthe printer driver into the client.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-216366 discussesa technique in which a plug-in program of the Web browser acquires datato be printed and print setting data from an application server, andthen performs printing using the printer driver that has been previouslyinstalled in the client.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-216366

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, for a user who wants to mainly use the Web application, anenvironment is preferable for the client in which only minimum functionsother than the Web browser operate. Therefore, in addition to the Webbrowser, to individually install the application does not necessarilysatisfy the user's demands. Further, to install the printer driver maybe a troublesome work for the user.

Furthermore, in the print system discussed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2003-216366, a function for transmitting theprint setting data to the client needs to be added for the Webapplication program side. Since the conventional general Web applicationprogram does not have such a function, the technique described inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-216366 cannot beinstantly used.

Solution to Problem

The present invention is related to a method for transmitting datareceived from the Web application to a printer without involving aprinter driver to realize printing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a print system thatincludes an information processing apparatus including a Web browser andan application server including an application used via the Web browser,wherein the application server includes a generation unit configured togenerate print data to be transmitted to the information processingapparatus using the application according to a print instruction via theWeb browser, and the information processing apparatus includes a controlunit configured, as a function of the Web browser, to control a displayof a screen for receiving an execution instruction to print the printdata generated by the application server, and a transmission unitconfigured, as a function of the Web browser, to transmit the print datareceived from the application server to the printer if the executioninstruction for printing is received via the screen displayed by thecontrol unit.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration of a print system according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a hardware configuration of an informationprocessing apparatus that can be applied for the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a hardware configuration of a printer that canbe applied to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of an internal configuration of a Web browser.

FIG. 5 is an example of an internal configuration of a Web application.

FIG. 6A is an example of an interface (I/F) of a Web applicationdisplayed via a Web browser.

FIG. 6B is an example of an interface (I/F) of the Web applicationdisplayed via the Web browser.

FIG. 6C is an example of an interface (I/F) of the Web applicationdisplayed via the Web browser.

FIG. 7 is an example of an internal configuration of a print managementserver.

FIG. 8 is an example of print setting data.

FIG. 9 is an example of device information about a printer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing for issuing a printinstruction according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing for transmitting printdata to a printer according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing for monitoring printoutput according to a second exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration illustrating a print system forprinting Web contents according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

A client 1 that is an information processing apparatus directly operatedby a user is connected to a network 5 via a network interface such as anEthernet (registered trademark). A plurality of clients may be connectedto the network 5. A Web browser 10 is an application for browsing Webcontents installed in the client 1. The Web browser 10 is previouslyprovided with a print control function 1100 that can acquire and performan appropriate print service according to a print instruction by theuser via the Web browser 10.

An application server 2 is connected to the network 5. A Web application20 is a program that operates on an operating system of the applicationserver 2. The user accesses the application server 2 connected to thenetwork 5 via the Web browser 10 to use the Web application 20. For theclient 1, the application server 2 may serve as a remote serverconnected to the network on the internet.

A print management server 3 is also connected to the network 5. A printmanagement service 30 is a program that operates on the operating systemof the print management server 3. A print service database stores aprint service group that is acquired, performed, and controlled by theprint control function 1100 of the Web browser 10.

A printer 4 is connected to the network 5. A plurality of printers maybe connected to the network 5. Further, the printer may be directlyconnected to the client without the network 5 using a predeterminedcommunication line such as a universal serial bus (USB).

From a point of view of the user, since, when the user uses the printfunction according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwhile using the Web application 20, the print function seems a part ofthe function provided by the Web application 20, thus the user is notconscious about the print management service 30.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration in the client 1 which is a general information processingapparatus.

In the client 1, a central processing unit (CPU) 101 comprehensivelycontrols each device connected to a system bus 104 according to theprogram stored in a random access memory (RAM) 102. The RAM 102 alsofunctions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 101. A read onlymemory (ROM) 103 includes a program ROM 103 a that stores a boot programand a basic input output system (BIOS), and a data ROM 103 b that storesvarious pieces of data. A keyboard controller interface (I/F) 105controls a key input from a keyboard 109 and a pointing device (i.e. amouse) (not illustrated). A display I/F 106 controls a display on adisplay 110.

An external memory I/F 107 controls access to an external memory 111such as a hard disk (HD) and a solid state disk (SSD). The externalmemory 111 functions as a storage medium that can be read by theinformation processing apparatus and stores applications such as anoperating system (hereinafter, referred to as “OS”) 112 and the Webbrowser 10. The external memory 111 can further store a user file and anedited file (not illustrated). A network I/F 108 is connected to thenetwork 5 to perform communication control processing.

The application server 2 and the print management server 3 included inthe print system according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention serve as a server, and have an apparatus configuration similarto that of the client 1. However, the programs operating on the client1, the application server 2, and the print management server 3 aredifferent from one another which is described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration in the printer 4.

A CPU 401 controls an entire operation of the printer 4. A RAM 402functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 401 and also isused as an output information extension region and an environmental datastorage region. The RAM 402 also includes a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM)region and thus can increase a memory capacity with an option RAM to beconnected to an extension port (not illustrated).

A ROM 403 includes a font ROM 403 a that stores various types of fonts,a program ROM 403 b that stores a control program executed by the CPU401, and a data ROM 403 c that stores various pieces of data. A networkI/F 405 is connected to the network 5 to perform the communicationcontrol processing. A print device I/F 406 controls an interfaceconnecting with a print device 408 which is a printer engine. Access toan external memory 410 is controlled by an external memory I/F 407.Further, the external memory 410 includes the HD to be connected as anoption, and stores font data, an emulation program, and form data.

An operation device 409 includes an operation panel for receiving anoperation by a user. The operation panel includes a switch and a lightemitting diode (LED) display device for operations (not illustrated).The CPU 401 outputs an image signal as output information to the printdevice 408 via the print device I/F 406 based on a control programstored in the program ROM 403 b in the ROM 403.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of internal componentsof the Web browser 10. The Web browser 10 operates as an application onthe OS of the client 1.

A network control unit 1001 controls communication with the network 5and performs processing for receiving the Web contents and processingfor transmitting data input by the user. A content storage unit 1002stores the Web contents acquired by the network control unit 1001 in theRAM 102 or the external memory 111, and takes out the Web contents inresponse to a request from another component.

A content display unit 1003 takes out the Web contents stored by thecontent storage unit 1002, interprets descriptions of a document in amarkup language format such as hyper text markup language (HTML), astyle sheet language and image data, and then performs processing fordisplaying the Web contents on the display 110. Further, the contentdisplay unit 1003 applies and displays a style sheet when it isspecified by the Web contents.

An input control unit 1004 detects an input to a link or a buttondisplayed on the display 110 as a menu command of the Web browser 10 anda part of the Web contents and then performs the processing according tothe input. For example, when the user places a mouse cursor over thelink with an underlined character string in the displayed Web contents,the input control unit 1004 instructs the content display unit 1003 todisplay the character string of the link in a highlighted color.Further, when the user clicks a link, the input control unit 1004instructs the network control unit 1001 to acquire other Web contentsindicated by the link.

The print system according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention includes the print control function 1100 that controls theprint processing as the function of the Web browser 10. The printcontrol function 1100 performs control for transmitting the print datato the printer 4 and processing for acquiring the print service from theprint management server 3 according to the print instruction by theuser. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the print controlfunction 1100 includes a print control unit 1110, a printer managementunit 1120, a print service control unit 1130, and a printercommunication unit 1140.

The print control unit 1110 processes a request transmitted from thenetwork control unit 1001 and gives an instruction for processing toanother component. Further, the print control unit 1110 acquires printdata 208 from the Web application 20 in conjunction with the contentstorage unit 1002. Furthermore, the print control unit 1110 controlsdisplay of a management screen 610 that receives a print executioninstruction from the user which is described below.

The printer management unit 1120 is a component that manages an outputtarget printer such as the printer 4. A printer that can be the outputtarget is registered to a predetermined storage region in the clientbased on an instruction by the user in advance so that the Web browser10 can handle the printer. Further, the printer management unit 1120 mayhave a function for searching the printer that can be the output targetof the print data via the network control unit 1001 of the Web browser10. The printer that can be the output target is displayed on themanagement screen 610.

The printer communication unit 1140 communicates with the printer 4using the network control unit 1001 of the Web browser 10 and controlsthe transmission of the print data. Further, when the print service isexecuted as described below, the printer communication unit 1140performs control for acquiring device type information 41 about theprinter 4.

The print service control unit 1130 performs mainly processing describedbelow. When the print data 208 acquired from the Web application 20 istransmitted to the printer 4 selected as the output target printer, theprint service control unit 1130 performs processing for providing ascreen in which the user can check whether to transmit the print data208 with a predetermined print setting. At this point, for example, byacquiring the device type information from the output target printer,the print service control unit 1130 can create and display a printsetting screen 620 for allowing the user to change an output format ofthe print data such as layout setting as described below.

Further, the print service control unit 1130 acquires from the printmanagement service 30 and performs the service program for providingvarious types of print services according to the print data 208, theprint setting data set therefore, and the device type information 41.The service programs acquired by the print service control unit 1130from the print management server 3 as necessary will be described below.In the present exemplary embodiment, specific five examples will bedescribed as the print services.

A print setting UI display service 1121 creates a user interface (UI)for performing print setting on the print data and displays the UI onthe Web browser 10. An example of a UI screen will be described withreference to FIGS. 6A to 6C. When the user sets each setting item, theset values are stored as the print setting data. For example, the printsetting data is setting information necessary for printing. In Windows(registered trademark) OS, the DEVMODE structure and PrintTicketcorrespond to the setting information. As an example of the printsetting data, details will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

For example, in a case where a plurality of pages are integrated intoone surface of a sheet with respect to the print data, a layout service1122 is used to perform printing in a specific output format. Morespecifically, the layout service 1122 is used when a set value for “PAGEINTEGRATION” in the print setting data is 2-up or more.

A stamp service 1123 is used when the print data is printed with a stampimage overlapped thereon. More specifically, the stamp service 1123 isused when a set value for “STAMP” of the print setting data is “ON”.

A preview display service 1124 is used when print preview is displayedbefore printing is performed. More specifically, the preview displayservice 1124 is used when a set value for “PRINT PREVIEW” of the printsetting data is “ON”.

A page description language (PDL) conversion service 1125 is used whenthe print data acquired from the Web application 20 is converted into aprint language that can be interpreted by the printer. Morespecifically, the PDL conversion service 1125 determines whether theprinter supports a data format of the print data 208, and converts theprint data into the PDL supported by the printer as necessary.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theprint control function 1100 included in the Web browser 10 may have onlyfunctions of a part of the components illustrated in FIG. 4. Morespecifically, the print control function 1100 may have a simpleconfiguration in which at least any of functions for searching theprinter on the network, acquiring the device type information from theprinter, and acquiring the service program from the print managementserver 3 is not included.

Even the Web browser 10 having the simple configuration described above,the Web browser 10 can allow the user to check the standard printsetting (e.g., setting the number of copies to print) for the selectedprinter and to realize printing of the print data acquired from the Webapplication 20. Instead of acquiring the above-described serviceprograms as necessary, the print service control unit 1130 may bepreviously provided with the preview display service 1124 and the PDLconversion service 1125 as a service, for example.

The print control function 1100 that has been described so far can beprovided as a plug-in program of the Web browser 10. With thisarrangement, a vendor of the printer can flexibly provide the Webbrowser 10 that has already operated in the information processingapparatus with the plug-in program for providing the service forperforming optimum printing.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of internal componentsof the application server 2.

A network control unit 201 receives a request (instructions to activate,operate, and end the Web application) from the Web browser 10 andtransmits the request to an application control unit 202. Further, thenetwork control unit 201 performs control for transmitting a responsefrom the application control unit 202 to the Web browser 10. Theapplication control unit 202 processes the request transmitted from thenetwork control unit 201 and gives an instruction for processing toanother component.

A display control unit 203 reads a stored program code 204, creates theWeb contents corresponding to the user interface displayed on the Webbrowser, and transmits the created Web contents to the applicationcontrol unit 202. Further, the display control unit 203 processes arequest for operating input transmitted from the application controlunit and creates data for displaying the UI according to the input.

A document management unit 205 performs control for storing documentdata 206 created or edited by the user in an external memory 209 of theWeb application 20 and reading the document data therefrom. While theconventional embedded type application stores the document data in theclient of the user, the Web application is characterized in that thedocument data is stored on the server.

A print data generation unit 207 converts the document data 206 intoprint data 208 in a format appropriate for printing according to arequest of the print instruction from the Web browser 10. Apredetermined memory 210 is used to convert the data. The formatappropriate for printing may include the extensible markup language(XML) and the portable document format (PDF). The print data generatedhere is transmitted to the Web browser 10.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are examples of displaying the UIs provided by the Webapplication 20 that is activated on the Web browser 10 via the network5.

First, with reference to FIG. 6A, a display for giving the printinginstruction with respect to print document data which is displayed to beedited using the Web application 20 will be described.

A uniform resource locator (URL) box 501 is included in the Web browser10. The Web browser 10 receives input of URL information described in aURL box 501 as the Web contents on the network 5 and transmits a requestfor activating the Web application 20 to the application server 2. Inresponse to the activation request, the Web application 20 transmits tothe Web browser 10 the information for displaying the UI created by thedisplay control unit 203.

The Web browser 10 receives the information for displaying the UI as theWeb contents, and displays the information on a display region 507 ofthe Web contents. At this point, it is desirable that the UI displayedin the display region 507 is designed not to a similar appearance of anormal Web page but to a screen of a general document creatingapplication.

In the Web browser 10, the user can use two types of methods for givingthe print instruction. One of them is using a “PRINT” menu button 505for activating the print function that is conventionally and generallyprovided to the Web browser itself. If the “PRINT” menu button 505 isused, printing is performed using the printer driver installed in theclient, in which the Web browser 10 operates, with a layout optimizedfor the display on the screen.

As another method for giving the print instruction, a method forselecting a print button 508 from the print menu to be displayed on theUI provided by the Web application 20 can be used. The exemplaryembodiment of the present invention can realizes the characteristicprint processing according to the print instruction using the printbutton 508. When the user selects the print button 508 to give the printinstruction, the Web application 20 causes the print data generationunit 207 to generate the print data 208 with the optimum layout foroutputting the print data 208 onto paper.

With reference to FIG. 6B, an example of a display when the print button508 is pressed will be described.

A management screen 610 for checking print contents includes regionssuch as [PRINTER LIST], [PRINT RANGE], and [NUMBER OF COPIES]. In the[PRINT RANGE], a page that the user wants to print of the document datato be printed can be easily set, and in the [NUMBER OF COPIES], thenumber of copies to be printed can be easily set.

In the [PRINTER LIST], using a [PRINTER NAME] list control 611, theprinters that can be selected as the output target printer can bedisplayed and selected. When a [SET DETAILS] button 612 is pressed, asetting screen using the above-described print setting UI displayservice 1121 is displayed. When a [SEARCH PRINTER] button 613 ispressed, the printer on the network is searched. As a result of thesearch, the user can select the found printer as the output targetprinter.

With reference to FIG. 6C, a case when the [SET DETAILS] button 612 ispressed will be described.

The print setting screen 620 illustrates an example of displaying the UIfor print setting using the device type information acquired from theabove-described various types of print services and the output targetprinter. More specifically, an output size, a print orientation, pageintegration, two-sided printing, stamp, and print preview can be set.Based on values set here, the print setting UI display service 1121creates the print setting data.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of internal componentsof the print management server.

A network control unit 301 controls communication with an externalinformation processing apparatus and the printer 4. A print servicemanagement unit 302 processes a request transmitted from the networkcontrol unit 301. Further, the print service management unit 302 managesa print service group to be provided for the Web browser 10 using aprint service database 303. The print service management unit 302searches a requested print service from the print service database 303and performs control for transmitting the requested print service to therequest source via the network control unit 301.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the print setting data. In theexemplary embodiment of the present invention, a “PrintTicket” describedon the XML basis will be explained as an example.

In the illustrated print setting data, setting items, such as the outputsize (PageMediaSize), the print orientation (PageOrientation), and thepage integration (JobCopiesAllDocuments) are set. As to the output size,“Letter” is set. As to the print orientation “Landscape” is set. As tothe page integration, “2 pages/sheet (“2”)” is set.

In addition to the above described setting items, various items such assettings about stapling or binding, and ecologically friendly setting(e.g., toner saving setting) can be included in the setting items forthe print setting data. With reference to the set values of thesesetting items, the print service control unit 1130 of the print controlfunction 1100 calls up and uses the necessary print service.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the device type information about theprinter 4.

The illustrated device type information includes information such as“XXXX xxxxx” as a printer name (PrinterName) and “XPS” as a printlanguage that the printer can interpret. In the description illustratedin FIG. 9, as to the print language, a value of “IsPDFSupported” is“false” and a value of “IsXPSSupported” is “true”, and thus it can beunderstood that the supported print language is “XPS”.

The print service control unit 1130 of the print control function 1100checks the format of the print data acquired from the Web applicationand performs processing for converting the format of the print data intothe print language “XPS” that the printer can interpret, for example,using the PDL conversion service 1125 if the format is the PDF.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the client 1when the print instruction from the user is received on the Webapplication 20 activated via the Web browser 10.

In step S1501, at a timing when the Web application 20 is activated viathe Web browser 10 and starts receiving the printing instruction fromthe user. The instruction from the user is detected by the input controlunit 1004 of the Web browser 10. Then, the detected input is transmittedto the Web application 20 via the network control unit 1001.

In step S1502, the network control unit 1001 waits until receiving aresponse from the Web application 20 according to the print instructionthat has received thereby. When the network control unit 1001 receivesthe print data 208 as the response from the Web application 20 (YES instep S1502), in step S1503, the network control unit 1001 transmits thereceived print data 208 to the print control unit 1110.

In step S1504, the print control unit 1110 performs control fordisplaying the UI (the management screen 610) for allowing the user toinput a print execution instruction with respect to the received printdata 208. Further, at this point, the printer that can be the outputtarget and is managed by the printer management unit 1120 is called upso that the user can select the output target printer from the [PRINTERNAME] list control 611. The printer called up here, as described above,may be the printer that is previously registered, or the printersearched on the network.

A method for searching the printer with which the printer managementunit 1120 can perform output will be described below as a representativeexample. In the example, the printer management unit 1120 communicateswith the printers connected to the network 5, and acquires informationsuch as a name, an installation location, an internet protocol (IP)address, and a hardware identification (ID) of the respective printers.Further, as a communication method, a protocol such as a simple networkmanagement protocol (SNMP) can be used.

To check a status of the printer (e.g., whether a power is on) andwhether the printer is connected to the network 5, the printermanagement unit 1120 transmits a predetermined data via the broadcast toattempt the communication with apparatuses on the network. The printermanagement unit 1120 receives the information about the name andinstallation location of the printer from the printer 4 via the networkI/F as the response. Then, based on the received information, theprinter management unit 1120 determines whether the printer can output.By this searching processing, the printer management unit 1120 acquiresthe information about the printer that can be the output target andmanages it.

In step S1505, the print control unit 1110 determines whether the [SETDETAILS] button is pressed from the management screen 610. When it isdetermined that the [SET DETAILS] button is pressed (YES in step S1505),the processing proceeds to step S1506.

In step S1506, the printer communication unit 1140 communicates with theprinter 4 selected by the [PRINTER NAME] list control 611 to acquire thedevice type information 41. Then, in step S1507, the print servicecontrol unit 1130 calls up the print setting UI display service 1121.When the print service control unit 1130 does not previously manage theprint setting UI display service 1121, the print service control unit1130 communicates the print management server to acquire the service.

In step S1508, using the print setting UI display service 1121, theprint control unit 1110 creates and displays the print setting screen620 corresponding to the device type information acquired in step S1506.

In step S1509, the print control unit 1110 waits until receiving theprint execution instruction. When the print control unit 1110 receivesthe print execution instruction via the management screen 610 or theprint setting screen 620 (YES in step S1509), the processing proceeds tostep S1510. In step S1510, as illustrated in FIG. 11, processing forcausing the printer to execute desired print output is performed.

In step S1511, the print control unit 1110 instructs the print servicecontrol unit 1130 to end the service. At this point, the print servicecontrol unit 1130 may delete the managed print service and acquire theprint service by communicating with the print management server everytime the print instruction is received from the user. According to theprocessing described above, a series of print processing using the Webapplication 20 ends.

As the print control function 1100 included in the Web browser 10, forexample, a case where the Web browser 10 has a simple configuration,which does not include a function for acquiring the device typeinformation from the printer and a function for acquiring the serviceprogram from the print management server 3, will be described.

In this case, since the processing of steps S1506 and S1507 are notperformed, the display is controlled so that the [SET DETAILS] button isnot included or the [SET DETAILS] button cannot be pressed in the screen(610) displayed in step S1504. Accordingly, after the processing in stepS1504, upon receiving the print execution instruction from the user instep S1509, the print processing directly proceeds. Even in this case,the user can check the output printer and the number of copies to beprinted, and the simple printing can be performed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the details of processing in stepS1510 illustrated in FIG. 10. As will be described in steps S1601,S1604, S1607, and S1610, the print control unit 1110 determines whetherto need the processing using the print service for the print data withreference to the print setting data. When any print service isnecessary, the print control unit 1110 instructs the print servicecontrol unit 1130 to perform various types of processing on the printdata using the print service.

First, in step S1601, the print control unit 1110 determines whetherlayout change is instructed. For example, when the set value of [PAGEINTEGRATION] is set to n-up (n>1), it is determined that the layout isto be changed. When the print control unit 1110 determines that thelayout change is instructed (YES in step S1601), the processing proceedsto step S1602. When the print control unit 1110 determines that thelayout change is not instructed (NO in step S1601), the step proceeds tostep S1604.

In step S1602, the print service control unit 1130 calls up the layoutservice 1122. As described above, such a print service may be acquiredby communicating with the print management server as necessary. In stepS1603, the print service control unit 1130 activates the layout service1122 to edit the layout set for the print data.

In step S1604, the print control unit 1110 determines whether the stampsetting is instructed. For example, the set value of the [STAMP] is setto ON, it is determined that setting to add the stamp image isinstructed. When the print control unit 1110 determines that the stampsetting is instructed (YES in step S1604), the processing proceeds tostep S1605. When the print control unit 1110 determines that the stampsetting is not instructed (NO in step S1604), the processing proceeds tostep S1607.

In step S1605, the print service control unit 1130 calls up the stampservice 1123. In step S1606, the print service control unit 1130activates the stamp service 1123 to perform processing for adding theset stamp image to the print data.

In step S1607, the print control unit 1110 determines whether thedisplay of the print preview is instructed. For example, when the setvalue of the [PRINT PREVIEW] is set to ON, it is determined that thedisplay of the print preview is instructed. When the print control unit1110 determines that the display of the print preview is instructed (YESin step S1607), the processing proceeds to step S1608. When the printcontrol unit 1110 determines that the display of the print preview isnot instructed (NO in step S1607), the processing proceeds to stepS1610.

In S1608, the print service control unit 1130 calls up the previewdisplay service 1124. In step S1609, the print service control unit 1130activates the preview display service 1124 to control the display of theprint preview corresponding to the print data reflecting the settings sofar. The preview is displayed via the Web browser 10.

When print execution is instructed in the preview (when the OK button ispressed), the processing proceeds to step S1610. When cancelling isinstructed, the print data is not transmitted but the processing in stepS1511 is performed to end a series of the processing.

In step S1610, the print control unit 1110 determines whether theprinter 4 selected as the output target printer can output the dataformat of the print data 208 acquired by the Web application 20. If theprinter 4 can output the format (YES in step S1610), the processingproceeds to step S1613. If the printer 4 cannot output the format (NO instep S1610), the processing proceeds to step S1611.

In step S1611, the print service control unit 1130 calls up the PDLconversion service 1125. In step S1612, the print service control unit1130 activates the PDL conversion service 1125 to perform PDL conversionprocessing on the print data. For example, when the Web browser 10receives the print data in the PDF format, the PDF format is convertedinto a print language (e.g., XPS) supported by the printer 4.

In step S1613, the print control unit 1110 transmits to the printer 4the print data created by the processing so far. The printer 4 processesthe received print data based on the set print setting to perform printoutput.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, when printing isperformed from the general Web application 20 that can create versatiledata (e.g., in the PDF format), printing can be directly performed fromthe Web browser 10 without installing the printer driver in the client.

In a second exemplary embodiment, processing for monitoring an outputstatus and re-printing after a print job is transmitted to the printer 4in the first exemplary embodiment will be described. More specifically,after the print data is transmitted, the Web browser 10 communicateswith the printer 4 and monitors print output to be normally completed,and then performs the processing for ending the service described instep S1511.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing for monitoring printoutput by the printer performed between the processing in steps S1510and S1511 described with reference to FIG. 10.

In step S1701, the printer communication unit 1140 receives the statusfrom the printer 4 that has transmitted the print data. The processingfor receiving the status can be performed by, for example, a method inwhich the printer communication unit 1140 requests the printer totransmit its status at every predetermined timing or a method in whichthe printer communication unit 1140 receives the status, such as acompletion or an error of print output, voluntarily transmitted from theprinter.

In step S1702, the print control unit 1110 determines whether the statusof the printer 4 received via the printer communication unit 1140 is anerror. When the status is not the error (NO in step S1702), theprocessing proceeds to step S1703. If the status is the error (YES instep S1702), the processing proceeds to step S1704.

In step S1703, the print control unit 1110 determines whether the statusof the printer 4 received via the printer communication unit 1140 is thecompletion of the print output. When the status is the completion of theprint output (YES in S1703), the processing proceeds to step S1511. Ifthe status is other than the completion of the print output, e.g., anotification of printing progress (NO in step S1703), the processingreturns to step S1701 and waits for the next status reception.

In step S1704, the print control unit 1110 displays a display screen(not illustrated) for notifying the user of an occurrence of the erroron the Web browser 10 as an error notification. Further, the displayscreen for the error notification includes an inquiry to the user aboutwhether to perform re-printing with the same setting.

In step S1705, the print control unit 1110 determines whether the printcontrol unit 1110 has received an input for performing re-printing fromthe user. When the print control unit 1110 receives the input forre-printing (YES in step S1705), the processing returns to step S1510,and the print data is transmitted to the printer again. When the printcontrol unit 1110 receives the input for not re-printing (NO in stepS1705), the processing proceeds to step S1511.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, basically, the printprocessing which is performed by the Web browser 10 without installingthe printer driver in the client is described. In some cases, however,the printer driver commonly used by users may be already installed inthe client. A third exemplary embodiment is characterized in that whenthe management screen 610 is displayed, the already installed printerdriver is taken into consideration.

More specifically, when the printer that can be the output target and ismanaged by the printer management unit 1120 is called up, informationabout the printer driver already installed in the client is acquiredfrom the OS at the same time. When the information about the printerdriver can be acquired, the corresponding printer is displayed on the[PRINTER NAME] list control 611. Displaying the printer in which theprinter driver has been already installed may be controlled so that theuser can easily identify the printer, for example, the printer isdisplayed on the top of the list. Further, when the [SET DETAILS] button612 is pressed, the print setting screen provided by the printer drivermay be opened.

The present invention can also be realized by executing the followingprocess. That is, a process in which a software (program) that realizesthe functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to thesystem or apparatus via a network or a recording medium of varioustypes, and then a computer of the system or apparatus (or devices suchas CPU or MPU) reads out the program and executes it. In such a case,the recording medium where the program is stored as well as the programare included in the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2010-104297 filed Apr. 28, 2010, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1. A print system that includes an information processing apparatus including a Web browser and an application server including an application used via the Web browser, wherein the application server includes: a generation unit configured to generate print data to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus using the application according to a print instruction via the Web browser; and wherein the information processing apparatus includes: a control unit configured, as a function of the Web browser, to control a display of a screen for receiving an execution instruction to print the print data generated by the application server; and a transmission unit configured, as a function of the Web browser, to transmit the print data received from the application server to the printer if the execution instruction for printing is received via the screen displayed by the control unit.
 2. A method for controlling a print system that includes an information processing apparatus including a Web browser and an application server including an application used via the Web browser, Wherein the application server includes: generating print data to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus using the application according to a print instruction via the Web browser, and wherein the information processing apparatus includes: controlling, as a function of the Web browser, a display of a screen for receiving an execution instruction to print the print data generated by the application server; and transmitting, as a function of the Web browser, the print data received from the application server to the printer if the execution instruction for printing is received via the screen displayed by the control unit.
 3. An information processing apparatus that includes a Web browser using an application of an application server connected thereto via a network, the information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to, as a function of the Web browser, control a display of a screen for receiving an execution instruction to print print data which is generated by the application of the application server and received from the application server; and a transmission unit configured to, as a function of the Web browser, transmit the print data to a printer if the execution instruction for printing is received via the screen displayed by the control unit.
 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit performs display for allowing a user to select an output target printer from among a plurality of printers managed by the Web browser in the screen for receiving the execution instruction for printing.
 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of printers managed by the Web browser is at least either of a printer that is previously registered by a user and a printer that is found by being searched on the network.
 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising, as a function of the Web browser, a communication unit configured to acquire device type information about the printer.
 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit receives a status of print output from the printer that transmits the print data by the transmission unit.
 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising, as a function of the Web browser, a service control unit configured to call up a service to be applied to the print data received from the application server.
 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the service control unit acquires the service from a server connected via the network.
 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, if an input for setting an output format of the print data is received via a screen displayed by the control unit, the service control unit calls up a print setting user interface (UI) display service to control a display of a print setting screen.
 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the print setting screen is a screen through which a setting corresponding to an output target printer can be performed.
 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the service control unit calls up a service corresponding to a print setting set for the print data to perform processing corresponding to the print setting on the print data.
 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the print setting includes at least either of page integration and a stamp.
 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, if print preview of the print data is set to be performed, the service control unit calls up a service for performing the print preview to control a display of the print preview corresponding to the print setting of the print data.
 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, if a format of the print data received from the application server is not supported by the output target printer, the service control unit calls up a service for converting a format to perform processing for converting the format of the print data into a format supported by the printer.
 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the format of the print data received from the application server is a portable document format (PDF).
 17. A method provided as a function of a Web browser that uses an application of an application server connected via a network, the method comprising: controlling a display of a screen for receiving an execution instruction to print print data which is generated by the application of the application server and received from the application server; and transmitting the print data to a printer if the execution instruction for printing is received via the screen displayed by the control.
 18. A program for realizing a method provided as a function of a Web browser that uses an application of an application server connected via a network, the method comprising: controlling a display of a screen for receiving an execution instruction to print print data which is generated by the application of the application server and received from the application server; and transmitting the print data to a printer if the execution instruction for printing is received via the screen displayed by the control. 